Box Score The Scotties faced the Hesston Larks 11-16, 2-7 on a mid-week region match-up.
The first set of the match saw a big power game from the Scotties side of the net. Outside Leslie Polanco put down seven of the teams 18 kills with Orozco helping out with six of those. The defense stayed consistent picking up 22 team digs led by Johnson with nine. Highland took the set 25-15.
Setter Katie Pearson had 17 assists in just the first set to push her to #1 All-Time Leader at HCC with 1287 set assists.
A back and forth early match caused a little miss rhythm on the Scotties side but with a reliable defense and a big offensive momentum led by Polanco, the Scotties kept a lead. Highland called a timeout with a lead of 18-16 over the Larks. The break was all they needed to finish the set 25-23.
The third set saw more errors on the home team than wanted and the momentum could not be kept. Highland led at 18-16 with a nice pancake by sophomore Koie Orozco. But the Larks found their energy to take the set 25-23.
The fourth set was an intense battle all the way through even with an 11-5 lead early. Zealia Kletiz had seven kills off nine attempts to help lead the Scotties to victory 25-17.
Highland had a handful of records broken throughout the set on top of Pearson's assist record. Polanco earned #1 in single-season kills and digs at Highland and teammate Emma Cohalla is now #2 in single-season blocks with 105 and Kleitz is now #5 in single-season blocks with 90. Libero Kirsten Johnson is on her way to 2nd only needing 11 more on top of her 565.
Johnson led the defense with 24 digs followed by Orozco with 16; who also recorded 12 kills earning a double-double. Polanco had a career-high 26 kills on top of 19 digs. Pearson recorded her 2nd best stat game with 56 assists and nine digs. The team had three aces and six total blocks.
The Highland volleyball team is now 29-11 overall and 6-2 in conference play. They will host their sophomore night on Monday, October 30 in their last, most crucial match of the season against the #7 Cowley County Tigers (35-5, 7-1).
